Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Escort Insert X-Out is a bunch based dropback pass out of Shotgun Bunch TE Wk that stresses the defense with two vertical clear outs and a shallow crosser underneath. From the bunch alignment, both outside receivers push straight upfield and break outward on deep comebacks to clear the sideline, while the X receiver runs the out breaking route toward the boundary at intermediate depth. The remaining receiver runs a quick shallow drag across the formation as an insert route, giving the quarterback a horizontal stretch read underneath the two vertical clear outs. This is a man beater design that uses the vertical routes to occupy deep defenders and open the drag and out combination underneath, with the primary read progression starting on the shallow drag, then working to the X-Out, and finally to the deep comeback if the corner sits low.
Defensive Reads
Key the single high safety at the snap, if he stays deep in the middle the drag and X-Out will be open underneath. Watch the corner aligned over the X receiver, if he sits on the out route break your window closes fast, so check the comeback route behind him. Identify zone drops from the linebackers immediately after the snap, since a zone shell that squats on the drag route will force you to the deep comeback instead. Look for user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow crossing lane, a spy or rat defender sitting underneath can jump the drag route and turn it into a pick six. This play struggles against two high safety shells with aggressive cover 2 corners jamming the outside releases, since the vertical clear outs get reroute delayed and the timing on the drag breaks down.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or second and medium when the defense is showing off man coverage with press corners on the bunch side.
Pre-snap, look for a single high safety shell because the two vertical clear outs will hold that safety and open up the shallow drag and X-Out underneath.
Motion the bunch receiver before the snap to confirm man coverage, if the defender follows across the formation you have a clean man beater.
Hot route the shallow drag to a quicker option like a slant if you are facing a hot blitz look, since the drag takes time to develop against pressure.
Pair this play with Mtn Escort HB Base or Mtn Divide from the same set to keep the defense guessing between run action and dropback pass out of the identical bunch look.
